Tag Archives: iron works

Steel roof guard rails are commonly needed in order to bring a new or existing structure up to current building codes and safety standards.Many buildings are what the industry calls grandfathered into old building codes.Once a building undergoes major renovation,the owner is typically forced to bring the building up to current safety codes and standards.This includes life safety,emergency lighting,fire alarms,walking surfaces etc. Included in life safety is roof safety and perimeter edge protection.Current building code states that workers and pedestrians must maintain 15 foot minimum distance from edges and skylights while on a roof .This makes most roofs with roof railings unusable.Even if a worker is simply doing maintenance and not accessed by pedestrians this roof railings are required.Furthermore in new york proper when many evacuation plans involve the roof and fire inspections may occur,additional steel stairs may be required over any obstructions,ac units or skylights. These must be all fabricated steel so they are fireproof by nature.

DESIGN

Design of a proper steel fabricated guard railing system is key in order to code. Parapet roof railings need not only to be a certain height but also be able to withstand certain lateral forces. Due to these requirements ,most roof guard railings are fabricated from welded steel pipes and tubes as well as solid steel pickets which are considered custom ironworks. These durable and fireproof materials will protect workers and pedestrians from the roofs edge and bring the building up to code,and can even be pleasant looking and painted, when designed properly by a steel fabrication company who is experienced in these products design and installation. In order for metal welded roof railings to meet current codes,they must have many different specific parts,including top and bottom structural rails and specific mid rail spacing requirements, depending upon the design.The most important part is the post and attachment details as where that is what gives the roof railings their strength. In some cases a toe kick is required at the bottom to stop debris from accidentally being sliden or kicked off the roof surface, as well as flying debris from gusty winds.

EXPERIENCED

As a diverse commercial steel fabricator an custom iron works shop for over 40 years ,steelmasters is extremely experienced in design ,fabrication and installation of roof railings having successfully completed hundreds of roof guardrailing projects welded out of various sizes and shapes built for longevity and safety,always passing inspections and clients taste buds alike. We would be happy to quote your next project so just give us a call or forward your drawings to our email for a design consult.

Metal stairs are a very important part of every building,allowing people to pass from different levels internally, as well as allowing safe access into and out of most structures, especially commercial buildings. Steel stairs have a large consideration in the design of the structure because they have so many standards that must be followed. For example the steps and risers need to be certain sizes,as well as the widths, which all can vary depending upon the building usage and capacity. Now on top of that the railings also have many codes which must be taken into consideration when designing. And again depending on capacity and usage, steel and metal railings have different tolerances for different building usages and various types of materials that can be used. Oh boy, this can get tricky !

Now take into account also that many egress stairs must be totally fireproof, limiting the raw material choices steel/metal, concrete/cement, and maybe some sort of stone like marble, granite or tiles. Maybe a combination of all of the above. This is why architects and engineers prefer to consult with professional and very experienced steel fabricators and iron works companies who have vast experience in the many different steel staircase options from past projects as well as adhering to the various egress codes which must be incorporated into the shop drawings and design as it can conform the the buildings aesthetics.

Staircases see lots of use and abuse in their lifespan. for the most part they must be accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That’s why custom fabricated steel steps is a prefered method of usage. They are durable, resilient, fireproof, and if designed and constructed well, very low maintenance. After all, how can you close something for repairs which may be the only exit and entrance for thousands of people in case of a fire or emergency? Repairing steel stairways is not a quick fix. So now you see why only an expert should design, fabricate, and install iron staircases.They are one of the most vital and permanent pieces of any commercial building ,whose occupants must actual lives depend on in an emergency, but must look attractive, last forever, adhere to tolerances down to the quarter inch, and also be as low maintenance and strong as possible. Not an easy or cheap item and shouldn’t be skimped on in any way. Although quite expensive , any commercial staircase should be professionally built and installed to guarantee longevity, minimal downtime for repairs, and be nicely incorporated into the buildings design as it is truly a vital organ of it,s existence.

For protection of commercial buildings,window guards and or burglar bars can be made of steel or aluminum in many different materials and shapes. They can be operable, fixed or have bellies and air conditioner cages. They must always be mounted outside of the building and into the framing structure of the opening,whether it be brick, wood or masonry. It has been said and advised by insurance companies and law enforcement alike that lack of commercial window guards actually invites crime since most commercial area’s are sparsely populated after working house,making businesses prime and easy targets. Although most businesses today use credit cards and digital payments,the computers and other electronics are easy targets for thieves.

There are dozens of designs and materials that can be combined for various looks and needs. They can be ornate with scrolling and cast iron designs or as simple as solid bars welded in frames or expanded metal steel mesh as is the normal on schools and hospitals.All materials and designs serve the same deterrent purpose but to different degrees .The idea is to strike a balance between aesthetics and the degree of security your commercial building requires.Then of course those are to be weighed against cost which can vary greatly depending upon the degree of difficulty in installation and the fabrication cost which includes material.Since every building is different and every opening is also different, the steel fabrication and welding of security guards and bars is done by hand and custom made. Each one having to be laid out and calculated,cut,designed and welded by the steel fabricator in his shop.Add all this together then blend it in with the quantity needed and you can figure out the pricing,and that’s why it can vary so much.Designing and calculating 10 window guards or two or 50 is not a vast difference as is true for any fabrication shop,so 2 would be much more costly per unit than 50 as each piece has to be measured and cut on machinery that needs to be setup for every size and shape. All of these things must be considered when estimating steel window guards or any steel fabrication and steel security project you may consider undertaking. But since it’s only done once and your commercial or industrial building is secured,it is worth spending the time and money on to have it done properly taking everything into account .

Over the past decade we have seen an increase of iron works companies fabricating and installing diamond plate steel staircases.Especially on outdoor stairways in commercial buildings but even on residential backyard stairs.Due to the durability,ease of maintenance, and especially for ease of cleaning snow and leaves from stair treads.We at steelmastersnyc strongly suggest flush mounted bolt connections from stair pans to stringers to remove for good painting,but also if ever damaged to replace easily without having to cut steel and weld.It also helps if something large needs to pass thru where steps are or for getting behind to clean if in an enclosed area.We have fabricated many for catwalks and mechanical platforms and even the pipe railings on those are bolted on for accessibility and ease of painting.Shop drawings are also helpful to fabricate correctly.

Steelmasters specializes in custom iron works and steel fabrication for commercial businesses throughout New York. Our professional iron workers can weld and manufacture steel and iron customized to fit your specific desires and needs. From steel staircases to metal garbage pail bins to sidewalk cellar doors, our welders work with miscellaneous commercial steel and iron fabrications of every kind.

Commercial Iron Works

As an experienced manufacturing company of iron works and steel fabrication, Steelmasters has the ability to provide metal fabrication services to a wide range of commercial and industrial businesses:

Hospitals

Factories

Industrial Businesses

Apartment Complexes

Government Buildings

Institutional Properties

Commercial Businesses

We also work with many real estate management companies and general contractors throughout New York.

Welders and Fabricators of Metal, Steel & Iron

We have over 30 years of experience and have completed thousands of projects for customers throughout New York. As specialists in our field, we are able to fabricate iron into usable products according to very specific requirements and needs of our commercial customers. Whether it’s steel stairs at an apartment complex, or a fixed roof access ladder for a commercial building, we can fabricate metal according to your specifications. Here are some of the common iron fabrication and metal fabrication products that we manufacture for commercial businesses in New York:

Why Choose Steelmasters?

We have over 30 years of experience in iron repair, fabrication and installation

We’ve successfully completed thousands of projects across New York

We use only the highest quality materials, guaranteed to last

Our knowledge in commercial iron works is unsurpassed

Our welders can help you make your idea a reality

Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed

Steelmasters is proud to provide complete steel works and iron works to customers throughout the state of New York and especially to the five New York City bouroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx as well as Westchester, Long Island and other neighboring cities.

Steel fabrication is the process of building steel into different shapes so as to fit into buildings, or making structures out of it. Proper shaping of steel can help reduce extra load on the material during construction, thus ensuring longevity of the building. This procedure applies to a wide variety of metal categories such as stainless, low carbon and alloy steels.

Typically, the steel fabricator should have comprehensive knowledge on the types of cutting and shaping techniques suitable for these materials. A wide range of tools can be used for this purpose such as welding machines, and even the computer for designing 3D shapes of the steel.

Welding is actually a form of fabrication whereby different parts of the metal are joined together using fusion, which is different from other lower temperature techniques of metal-joining such as soldering and brazing, these do not affect the base metal in any way by melting it.

One of the most common forms of welding is known as Shielded Metal Arc (SMA) fabrication, in this technique an electrode with flux around it is used to shield the weld puddle. Simultaneously, an electrode holder directs the electrode point as it steadily melts away steel parts. Slag will protect the weld puddle from environmental contamination during shaping. Sometimes, pressure may also be used together with heat, or on its own, for steel fabrication. Additionally, fabrication usually involves bending of metal which can be done through hammering, or even press brakes. Fabricators may employ these press brakes to shape or twist steel sheets into form.

Unlike other metals, steel can be made into various shapes due to its malleable nature. This material is often used in various aspects of construction such as structural framing, staircase guarding, bar joist and handrails amongst others. Steel fabrication is a common practice in most commercial building projects, it’s often used to meet the complex design requirements of construction.